I'd just like to wish all our visitors a fantastic 2010.

If you like to send us your sailing news or tell us about your events or if you have any suggestions on ways to improve the site we would love to hear from you. you can e-mail us: news@nisailing.net

Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern have attained an excellent 3rd place in the Australian 49er National Championships. The racing was over four days and the boys were consistent, in 4th place up until day four, when they sailed two excellent races and gained a place to finish in the top three.

AT RYA AGM HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA, presented the annual RYA Community and RYA Awards at the 2009 RYA AGM. A total of 49 volunteer awards were presented to winners hailing from across the UK from as far afield as the Isle of Wight to Northern Ireland.

At an awards evening a few weeks ago, the Ocean Youth Trust, Ireland awarded Bill O’Hara the ‘International Maritime Award’ for his success in helping to bring International Sailing acclaim to Ireland through his work as an international race official, most recently as race director for the Volvo Ocean Race.

Elaine Taylor BYC

Basic Navigation and Sea Safety Course Jan 23rd & 30th Coleraine

For information on all courses contact Patricia Storey at 07850435592

Congratulations to the New York Marathon runners from BYC who took part in the NY Marathon in aid of Marie Curie. Dave Fletcher managed to finish in the top 10,000 runners! Sounds like a lot of runners in front of him, but with over 40,000 runners, this puts him in the top 25%! Now Dave can relax in his Laser until his next challenge!

From Elaine Taylor (BYC)

Once again the Norfolklines Icebreaker Series has taken off with a fantastic turnout of dinghies. The Laser fleet sports the top names on the Irish circuit battling it out for top slot amongst Olympians – both past, present and aspiring. Here’s Roaring Forties Flannigan’s great report –

The RNLI Christmas shop is open from the beginning of November in Quay Leisure, High Street. Get your Christmas cards and calendars and all those stocking fillers from the RNLI this year. It’s a worth cause which most of us come into contact with, so do support the RNLI

The RYA NI will be running a Senior Instructor course at Cushendall over two weekends – 7/8 and 14/15 November. The cost for the course is £350. Anyone interested should contact Mary Farrell on mary.farrell@rya.org.uk to book a place.

The RYA NI AGM was held on Tuesday Oct 13th at Royal Ulster Yacht Club it was very well attended with standing room only.

At the RYA NI AGM, Rory Flannigan was awarded the ‘Young Powerboater of the Year Award’ for his incredibly close finish in the UK finals at Southampton last month.

Carrickfergus 18 year old Chris Penney scoops the NI youth sailing victory RYA NI Youth Squad sailor Chris Penney finished off his successful season with a convincing win over the weekend (26-27 September) at the RYA NI Volvo Youth Championships in Association with McCready Sailboats.

Donaghadee Sailing Club officially opened its new club house today with the help of double Olympic Gold medallist Shirley Robertson OBE. The Club, has a new purpose built club house thanks to 5 years of planning and, amongst others, a successful grant application to Sport NI.

The Volvo Eco Challenge is a great opportunity for young sailors to get actively involved with an environmental project for their club. The Eco Challenge provides grants of up to £1000 to sailing clubs who undertake an environmental initiative, carried out by young people aged between 10 – 16 at their club

We have some photos in the gallery from the Photos from Brewin Dolphin Keelboat weekend held at at RNIYC 5th and 6th Septemper 2009. Winds were gusting to 32 knots on the Saturday which led to some lively sailing!